Sports medicine professionals are continuously attempting to keep the incidence of injuries down. One way to accomplish this is to employ preventive methods that identify athletes who are at a greater risk of becoming injured prior to the start of the athletic season. The Functional Movement Screen™ (FMS) is a screening method that attempts to identify those individuals at risk of sustaining injuries by determining deficits in athletes' mobility and stability. This is an area of great conflict because athletic injuries result from many factors, not only in mobility and stability weaknesses. Therefore, it must first be determined whether deficient scores on the FMS are the result of the proposed weakness, or rather other potential risk factors. Functional Movement Screen™ scores were collected from 136 collegiate Division 1-A football players from three athletic programs. The scores were separated into one of three groups based upon the position played by each subject: (1) skill group, (2) combo group, and (3) line-of-scrimmage group. Data were also collected on each subject's height, weight, and relative body weight (BMI). The results of the ANOVA and Tukey HSD showed that there was a significant difference p < 0.05 between the line-of-scrimmage group and the skill group, as well as between the line-of-scrimmage group and the combo group. No significant difference was demonstrated between the combo group and the skill group. The results of the Pearson Correlation demonstrated a significant negative relationship p < 0.05 between the height of an athlete and the score received on the FMS. Significant negative relationships p < 0.01 were shown between the weight of an athlete and the score received on the FMS, as well as the relative body weight (BMI) and the athletes' score on the FMS. The results suggest that the score an athlete receives on the FMS may not reflect mobility and stability deficiencies because other factors affect the outcome of the scores. Therefore, at the present time, the FMS may not be a reliable tool by itself for identifying athletes who are at a greater risk of sustaining non-contact types of injuries. / Ph. D.

Data on peer-on-peer child sexual demonstrates up to one-third of child sexual assaults perpetrated by other children and what the limited data suggest is that these rates are increasing. These alarming rates of sexual abuse take place alongside increased hyper-access to pornography, with the average first age of exposure at 11. Frontline workers who handle child sexual assault victims and perpetrators indicate that pornography creates a risk of sexual assault by and among children. Given that law enforcement officers will eventually see these same cases, what are their perceptions of pornography as a risk factor for peer-on-peer child sexual abuse? By interviewing law enforcement officers in the United States working directly on cases involving child sexual abuse, I examine law enforcement officer's perceptions of the connections between pornography and child sexual abuse. A sample of 11 law enforcement officers identify pornography to have a role in peer-on-peer child sexual abuse. Additionally, the sample distinguishes several differences between how pornography impacts peer-on-peer child sexual abuse versus adult-on-child sexual abuse. This study is essential given the confusion in the law and eventual prosecutions; law enforcement is struggling with legislation that does not fit the reality of the cases and results in prosecutorial issues. / Master of Science / This project explores the perceptions of law enforcement officers on pornography as a risk factor for peer-on-peer child sexual abuse. The data for this study originates from 11 semi-structured interviews with law enforcement officers with experience investigating child sexual abuse. This study identified that law enforcement officers do perceive pornography to be a risk factor for peer-on-peer child sexual abuse. The findings of this study indicate the importance for future research and attention to how law enforcement and the U.S. government approach pornography as a risk factor.

The Hispanic population in the United States has increased to 62.1 million, significantly shaping the country's demographic landscape, with Hispanic women exhibiting the highest fertility rates. Concurrent with the population's growing trend is an increased prevalence rate of postpartum depression, with Latinas facing heightened risk factors. The inadequate representation of Latinas in postpartum depression research and healthcare guidelines exacerbates their vulnerability. The prevalence of postpartum depression among Latina women makes this condition a serious public health concern. Due to insufficient research on marginalized groups, emphasis is needed on culturally competent healthcare. This literature review aims to explore the underlying factors contributing to higher rates of postpartum depression among Latina women, analyzing existing research and any gaps or limitations in the existing body of knowledge. By examining common themes, it seeks to disclose intervention strategies that address the unique needs of this demographic. A literature review from 2020-2023 analyzed research on postpartum depression in U.S. Latina women, utilizing online databases, focusing on factors, interventions, and healthcare disparities. Identified were ten studies focusing on postpartum depression among Latina women, revealing themes such as unique risk factors, including discrimination, domestic violence, traumatic births, and healthcare access; disparities in access to treatment exacerbated by stigmatization and healthcare coverage gaps; and the effectiveness of community health worker in screening and treatment interventions. In conclusion, various risk factors and disparities were identified, with community health workers' involvement presenting a promising approach to addressing the unique experience of postpartum depression among Latina women.

Sexual victimization among college women is a common problem. This two-part study sought to examine social interaction anxiety as a risk factor of sexual victimization and to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a computer-based risk reduction program. A total of 1095 undergraduate females completed an online survey to assess social anxiety as a risk factor (study part I), a subsample of whom (n = 136, including 51 above the clinical cutoff on a social anxiety measure and 85 below the cutoff) completed the subsequent in-lab study (study part II). During study part II, participants were randomly assigned to either receive a computer-based risk reduction program or an educational program on campus resources (control condition), and their predicted use of resistance techniques was assessed both before and after their assigned program. Participants also responded to an audio recording of a sexual assault vignette to assess risk detection. After controlling for past victimization and depression, social interaction anxiety was not related to predicted use of assertive resistance techniques or to risk detection. However, social anxiety positively predicted use of passive resistance techniques at the lowest level of unwanted sexual advances (i.e., breast fondling) in a series of three escalating sexual advances (i.e., breast fondling, genital fondling, and rape threat). No participants dropped out of the study, and ratings on a questionnaire assessing acceptability of the risk reduction program were positive. Program condition predicted change scores for predicted use of assertive resistance at a low level of unwanted sexual advances (i.e., breast fondling) such that the control group decreased in predicted use of assertive resistance significantly more than the risk reduction program group. Additionally, the risk reduction program group had significantly better risk detection compared to the control group. Therefore, support for the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the risk reduction program was found. The finding that the control group decreased significantly more than the risk reduction program group in assertive resistance between the two story administrations is important because assertive resistance techniques tend to be the most effective in reducing risk of completed sexual victimization. Therefore, it is important that risk reduction programs encourage women to use assertive resistance. Clinical implications and suggestions for future research are discussed. / Ph. D.

No description available.

Although considerable literature can be found concerning the etiology of cigarette smoking, research suggests that a major gap exists pertaining to predictors of adolescent smoking for rural populations. The purpose of this study is to compare risk and protective factors for adolescents living in rural and urban environments. An ecological framework was used to examine variables from the individual, family, peer, school, and community contexts. The influence of these variables was assessed on a sample of (n=3,166) 8th, 10th, and 12th grade students from Virginia public schools. Linear regression analyses revealed that parental attitudes and best friends' smoking behavior was influential in the smoking behavior of both rural and urban adolescents. School and community level variables were only influential in smoking behavior among the urban adolescents. / Master of Science

Intestinal parasitic infections (IPI's) are considered to be a public health problem of global importance by the World Health Organization. The present epidemiologic survey study investigated the prevalence, risk factors, and consequences of pathogenic IPI's on the growth, nutrition and psychomotor development of 244 Ecuadorian children aged 0.2-14 years. The study was conducted in five rural hamlets located in a tropical rainforest area in northwest Ecuador. The study data were obtained by means of a structured questionnaire, a developmental screening examination, anthropometry, and lab analysis of blood and fecal samples. Data analysis was conducted using appropriate bivariate and multivariate statistical techniques. The study results revealed that 90% of the child subjects were infected with at least one pathogenic IPI species. Fifty-one percent were identified with helminthic infections, 37.6% with protozoal infections, and 21.4% were infected with both. The most common intestinal parasites detected were Ascaris lumbricoides (39.7%), Giardia intestinalis (25.2%), Trichuris trichiura (19.7%), Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (18.5%), Blastocystis hominis (13.3%), and Ancylostoma duodenale (1.7%). The prevalence of growth stunting (40%) and iron-deficiency anemia (26%) also was high. Children infected with Giardia exhibited a risk for stunted growth that was twice that of their non-infected counterparts (51.7% vs. 33.1%; OR=2.16, 95% C.I.= 1.13-4.15; p= 0.01). They also had significantly reduced mean blood hemoglobin levels compared to non-infected children 11.8 + 1.5.g/dL vs. 12.2 + 1.4g/dL; p= 0.023) but the proportion with iron-deficiency anemia was slightly but not significantly increased (29.4% vs. 24.3%). The characteristic most consistently associated with risk for pathogenic protozoal IPI's was a high density of domestic animals living in and around the home. Children who lived in such households had a risk for infection that was 2-5 times greater than others. This suggests that domestic animals were important reservoirs for IPI infection in the child group studied. Contrary to the a priori hypothesis, no gender, ethnic, nor age differences in infection risk were identified except for Trichuris infection, which was reduced in younger children contrary to expectations. Mass or targeted chemotherapy combined with health education and promotion are needed to reduce the cycle of infection and re-infection and the negative impact of these on child growth and iron status. Health education and promotion messages can be incorporated into other types of programs already in place in local schools and by the Ecuadorian Ministries of Public Health, Education, and Social Welfare and other agencies. / Master of Science

The study was conducted regarding the prevalence of risks for cardiovascular disease (CVD) among 150 Caucasian and African-American, low-income women and the effectiveness of a six-month intervention in reducing risks. Seventy-four and 76 participants were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups, respectively. Intervention consisted of 18 lessons taught by EFNEP paraprofessionals. A family record, three random-repeat 24-hour food recalls, and a health risk appraisal were collected at pre- and post-intervention sessions. Lipid profile, height, weight, percent body fat, and body mass index were measured on a sub-sample of 75 subjects. Descriptive statistics, two-sample t-tests and ANOVA (P < 0.05) were calculated. Results suggest that African-American and Caucasian, low-income women have high risks for CVD due to excessive intakes of total fat, saturated fats, sodium, and fats and sweets, but have low-intakes of dietary fiber, calcium, milk, vegetables, and fruits. They also had high incidences of obesity and smoking and low levels of physical activity. The intervention was successful in reducing intakes of energy and fats, sweets, and increasing intakes of dietary fiber I vegetable, and fruits. No significant change occurred with lipid profiles, obesity, and smoking. A six-month education program resulted in significant dietary improvement, but interventions of longer duration, specifically targeting obesity, physical activity, and smoking, are needed to improve those risk factors. / Master of Science

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No / Post-operative facial palsy is the most important potential complication of parotid surgery for benign lesions. The published prevalence of facial weakness is up to 57 per cent for temporary weakness and up to 7 per cent for permanent weakness. We aimed to identify potential risk factors for post-operative facial palsy. Materials and methods: One hundred and fifty patients who had undergone parotid surgery for benign disease were retrospectively reviewed. Tumour factors (size, location and histopathology), patient factors (age and sex) and operative factors (operation, surgeon grade, surgeon specialty and use of intra-operative facial nerve monitoring) were all analysed for significant associations with post-operative facial palsy. Results and analysis: The overall incidence of facial palsy was 26.7 per cent for temporary weakness and 2.6 per cent for permanent weakness. The associations between facial palsy and all the above factors were analysed using Pearson's chi-square test and found to be non-significant. Conclusion: These outcomes compare favourably with the literature. No significant risk factors were identified, suggesting that atraumatic, meticulous surgical technique is still the most important factor affecting post-operative facial palsy.